He Has Done All Things Well.

HE HAS DONE ALL THINGS WELL.

Mark 7:31-37.

Jesus was heading towards the Sea of Galilee (Mark 7:31). The next people He met were the friends of a deaf man who had such an impediment in his speech that it sounded like his tongue was tied up in knots. They brought him to Jesus, begging that Jesus would put His hand on him (Mark 7:32). Just as it is good to pray for our children even when they are not with us in the place of prayer, so it is good to bring the needy to Jesus for prayer.

Jesus took him aside and put His fingers in the ears of the man, spat and touched his tongue (Mark 7:33). Again, a spiritual battle was going on, perhaps inside the man himself. Jesus sighed (cf. Romans 8:26); and spoke forth in His own tongue what was in His heart: “Be opened” (Mark 7:34).

That Jesus thus spoke from the Faith within His own heart is demonstrated in the book of Hebrews, where the author places an Old Testament saying in the mouth of Jesus: ‘I will put My trust in Him’ (Hebrews 2:13). Jesus trusted in His Father, even when the whip was to His back (read Isaiah 50:6-9). So yes, when Jesus sighed and spoke that word, it was an act of faith: and thus, He is the forerunner of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

The effect was immediate. The man’s ears were opened, and his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly (Mark 7:35). Notice the order: when a person’s ears are opened to hear the word of God, then their tongue is loosed to give Him praise.

By now, Jesus could not keep who He is and what He was doing secret, try as He might. The more He commanded silence, the more widely the news was spread (Mark 7:36). No wonder the people were astonished. It was the fulfilment of prophecy: ‘The ears of the deaf’ are unstopped, and ‘the tongue of the dumb’ sings (Isaiah 35:5-6). “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak” (Mark 7:37).